whoe ripe and frolick of his full growne age, at laft betakes him to this ominous wood, his orient liquor in a christall glaffe, 80 85 to quench the drouth of Phebus, which as they taste, foone as the potion workes, their humane countenaunce, th' expreffe resemblance of the Gods, is chang'd or Ounce, or Tiger, Hogg, or bearded goate, I fhoote from heaven, to give him falfe convoy, 90 95 100 1 105 whoe with his foft pipe, and smooth dittied songe, of hatefull stepps, I must be viewles nowe. " Exit. Comus enters with a charminge rod in one hand and a glafs of liquor in the other; with him a route of monfters like men and women but beaded like wild beafts, their apparell glift'ringe, they come in makinge a riotous and vnruely noife, with torches in their hands. Co. The starr that bids the fhepheard fold, now the top of Heaven doth hold; v. 103. robes in the other copies. V. 112. The STAGE-DIRECTION after this verfe is not exactly the fame, as in the other copies. See Com. p. 18. and App. I. p. 154. the founds and feas, with all their finnie drove, 135 haile goddefs of nocturnall sport, darke-vayl'd Cotitto, 't' 'whome the secret flame of midnight torches burns; mifterious dame, 150 that nere art call'd, but when the dragon woombe of Stigian darknes, fpetts her thickeft gloome, ftaye thy cloudie Ebon chaire, wherein thou rid'ft with Hecat', and befriend 155 vs thy vow'd preifts, till vtmost end v. 119. Northerne. So the Camb. MS. v. 143. bas. So the Camb. MS. v. 145. Mr. Warton's 2d edition exhibits this ancient reading." the nice morne, on the Indian fteepe,. 160 and to the tell tale fun defcrie our conceal'd folemnitie. come, knitt hands, and beate the ground The Measure in a wild, rude, and wanton Antick. Co. 165 Breake off, breake off, I feele the different pace our number may affright; fome virgin fure 170 175 which must not be; for that's against my course. 180 and hug him into fnares. when once her eye hath met the vertue of this magick dust 185 I fhall appeare fome harmles villager whom thrifte keeps up about his countrie geare. but heere fhe comes, I fayrely ftep afide and hearken if I may her bufineffe heere. The lady enters. LA. This waye the noise was, if my eare be true, 190 of riott, and ill-manag'd merriment, fuch as the jocond flute, or gamefome pipe, ftirrs vp amonge the loofe vnlettered hindes, when for their teeminge flocks, and granges full, 195 v. 164. The STAGE-DIRECTIONS after this verse, and ver. 167, are the fame, as in the Camb. MS. v. 181. Gloweinge in the manufcript. . 190. mine in the other copies. in wanton daunce, they praise the bounteus Pan, I cannot hollowe to my brothers, but fuch noise as I can make to be heard fardeft SONGE Sweete Echo, sweetest nymphe, that liv'ft vnfeene by flowe Meander's margent greene, where the love-lorne nightingale nightly to thee her fad fong mourneth well. Canst thou not tell me of a gentle payre O, if thou have hid them in fome flowrie cave, tell me but where, 6 200 205 210 215 220 225 Sweete Queene of parlie, daughter of the fpheare! foe mayft thou be tranflated to the skyes, And hould a counterpointe to all heav'n's harmonies. 230 v. 207. The three beautiful lines which, in the other copies, follow this verfe, are not in this manufcript.. . 212. Stolne. So the Camb. MS. and ed. 1637. The hemiftich, and the thirty following lines, which the other copies exhibit, are not in this manufcript. v. 230. See p. 165, and note on Com. v. 243. The STAGE-DIRECTION, which follows this verfe, is the fame as in the Camb. MS. Co. Comus looks in and fpeakes. Can any mortall mixture of Earth's mould how fweetely did they floate vpon the wings cullinge their potent herbs and balefull druggs, whoe, when they fung, would take the prifon'd foule, and chid her barkinge waves into attention, and fell Charibdis murmurd foft applause : 235 240 245 250 I never heard till now: I'le fpeake to her and the fhalbe my Queene. Haile forreigne wonder! whome certaine these rough fhades did never breede, vnless the goddess, that in rurall shrine dwelft beere with Pan or Silvan, by bleft fong 255 forbiddinge every bleake vnkindly fogg LA. to touch the profperinge growth of this tall wood. Nay gentle Shepheard, ill is loft that praise that is addreft to vnattendinge eares : not any boast of skill, but extreame shifte how to regayne my feverd companye, compeld me to awake the curteous Eccho to give me answer from her moffy couch. Co. What chaunce, good Lady, hath bereft LA. dym darkneffe, and this leavye laborinth. could that devide you from neere vfheringe guydes? they left me weary on a graffie terfe, Co. LA. Co. LA. Co. by falfehood, or difcurtefie, or why? you 260 thus? 265 to feeke in the valley fome coole freindly fpringe. and lefte your fayer fide all vnguarded, Ladye? LA. they were but twaine, and purpof'd quick returne. Co. perhaps foreftallinge night prevented them. LA. how eafie my misfortune is to hit! v. 239. he. So the Camb. MS. and ed. 1637. v. 241. Niades in the MS. v. 243. When. In the other copies as. . 257. profperinge. So the Camb. MS. 270 |